Fifteen local council members from across the Maldives are set to travel to Beijing, China, to take part in a three-week seminar focused on strengthening local governance and fostering international cooperation.

The 20-member Maldivian delegation includes 15 council representatives, four officials from the Local Government Authority (LGA), and one representative from the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works (MOCLP).

The three-week seminar aims to strengthen international cooperation and enhance the leadership capacity of local governance actors in the Maldives. 

The programme will provide participants with opportunities to explore China’s public service and governance practices and foster exchanges that contribute to improved local development strategies.

Topics covered in the seminar include China’s national development trajectory, governance approaches, leadership development, e-government, administrative modernisation, and the structure of its political and local government systems. Participants will also study China’s policies on poverty alleviation, blue economy initiatives, tourism-driven economic development, industrial upgrading, and the growth of the e-commerce sector.

The initiative is expected to support the Maldives in strengthening local governance systems, nurturing globally aware leadership, and building stronger bilateral ties with China.